U.S. to double non-lethal aid to Syrian opposition

Sunday, April 21, 2013 - 01:29

April 21 - Amateur video purports to show shelling in major Syrian cities as U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says the United States will double its non-lethal aid to opposition forces. Sarah Charlton reports.

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REUTERS CANNOT INDEPENDENTLY VERIFY PART OF THE CONTENT IN THIS VIDEO, WHICH WAS OBTAINED FROM A SOCIAL MEDIA WEBSITE
Fighting erupts in Syria, as international powers try to find an end to the bloody civil war.
Video posted online appears to show recent clashes in major cities such as Damascus and Homs.
Opposition activists say the bombardment is from government forces.
Reuters cannot independently verify the footage.
It comes as foreign support for the opposition met in Turkey, discussing help for rebels who've been fighting the Syrian government for over two years.
Secretary of State John Kerry announced that non-lethal aid from the U.S. would double to 250 million dollars.
It was also agreed that assistance would be channelled through the rebel military council.
SOUNDBITE: (English) U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE, JOHN KERRY, SAYING:
"Today we, the supporters of the Syrian opposition came together - the ministers of all the countries that are here tonight -each of them committed not only to the first choice of a political peaceful solution but they committed to guarantee that they will separate and make certain that all aid goes through the supreme military command, through General Idris."
Kerry stopped short of pledging to supply rebels with weapons, but said further announcements could be made in the coming days.